When you enter a company as a new manager, you often have a fresh perspective. You may see gaps that others don’t, and have ideas for how to improve systems, processes, or projects. Even so, you can’t create any positive change without first getting your boss on board. How can you influence up and get your great ideas noticed?

• Focus on how your objectives support organizational goals. If you can convince your boss that your idea is going to help them do their job better, look better to senior management, or support the organization’s larger mission, then you can get your idea greenlit.
• Conduct a thorough cost/risk-benefit analysis and lay this information out in a logical way. If you can tell a clear story about why the benefits of your idea outweigh both the costs and the risks, decision-makers will have a hard time disagreeing with you.
• Problem-solve with your boss. Come up with a few questions to ask your boss so that they feel involved in the process. Their high-level direction and guidance can help you arrive at a better course of action, and save you hours of time and effort.
• If your boss just doesn’t have the time to problem-solve with you, or isn’t available to offer their agreement or consent, take an “unless directed otherwise” approach.  Send your boss an email sharing background on the issue and say, “Unless directed otherwise, I intend to [state your solution].”